Thanks for finally showing up! Too bad the rest of the team is exhausted (Photo: Melissa Andus)

So… this is starting to look familiar, isn’t it? The Rangers opening their series on the road with two straight losses. While I think the Rangers are looking much better in the second round than they did in the first, drawing out the first round to seven games didn’t do the team any favors in terms of fitness and reserves. So, we’re still missing Clowe, Staal, and Powe, the defense is clearly exhausted, and a 1 in 5 road record is… not great.

Well, let’s beat this dead horse!

» Continue reading “Not Even Nash Can Save Rangers In Second Loss To Boston”

Henrik is getting his shut-outs in the post-season! (Photo: Melissa Andus)

So, for a few minutes there, I was worried that this game was going to turn into the Boston-Toronto game, where Boston came back from a 3 goal deficit to win in overtime. But that didn’t happen. Lundqvist scored his second shut out in a row and the Rangers broke their streak of never winning a game 7 on the road with a 5-0 victory over the Washington Capitals. Congrats boys. Now we head to Boston for round 2….

» Continue reading “Rangers Move On To Face Boston After Five Zero Win In Game Seven”

Nice job shutting down Alex Ovechkin, Mac Truck. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

I don’t know if it was the high of a home victory, the roar of the hometown faithful, or just a wake-up call from Torts, but the Rangers really showed up tonight. Hitting, winning face offs, McDonagh sticking to Ovechkin like glue, Brassard getting two assists, Hagelin showing up with a goal and two assists, and Stepan with the game winning goal for the second straight game… it all added up to another 4-3 victory over the Caps.

» Continue reading “Rangers Tie The Series With Nail Biter Win”

The Rangers best defenseman of the night, John Moore. That’s good news for Moore. Not good news for the rest of the defense. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

When it comes to Rangers-Panthers, we all know who should win. All Rangers fans also know who probably will end up winning. Take this stat – in 46 games this season, the Panthers have led after two period only seven times. Two of those times were against the Rangers. At least they don’t have to worry about the Panthers and Markstrom, who had 80 saves in two games against the Rangers this season, if they do make the playoffs.

Before the game, the Rangers talked about how they needed to have a good start and put the Panthers away early. As we all know by now, when they make comments like that they usually don’t follow through. And once again they didn’t as I didn’t think the boys looked good the first few minutes.

Fortunately, they were playing the Florida Panthers and after an early penalty kill (an actual penalty kill as Ryan Callahan went over for tripping), the boys picked it up and dominated the rest of the period. Unfortunately that domination didn’t show on the scoreboard as the score remained tied at zero after twenty minutes even though they outshot the Panthers 10-2.

» Continue reading “Rangers Waste Chance To Clinch With Loss To Panthers”

One of these guys had a great game tonight. The other, not so much. (Photo: Melissa Andus)

In what was a more or a less must win game, the Rangers came out and did something surprising – they actually won. Convincingly too. Unfortunately I couldn’t enjoy all of it. Why was that? Cause I was pissed at the Rangers fan base.

Before the game, the Rangers presented the annual Steven McDonald award. I love listening to him speak and tonight was no different as he asked that we dedicate the rest of the season to Martin Richard, the eight year old Bruins fan who died in the bombings on Monday. Then he told the Rangers to make that one extra play to make this season memorable. All was well.

Then his son took the mic and said Ryan Callahan won the award again. Are you serious Rangers fans? Do you even watch the games? Honestly I want someone to look me in the eye with a straight face and tell me Callahan deserved it this year. I love him. I do. But he didn’t deserve it this year. I know he’s playing injured but I don’t care. There are guys who have shown more effort, who were just plain better. I was honestly fuming till the end of the first period. I’m still pissed but knowing Tortorella said Stepan deserved it makes me feel a little bit better.

Okay, rant over. But I haven’t forgiven you guys for this. As for the game, the captain finally was himself so if winning that award woke him up, I guess I can accept it. But only cause we need him so it was nice of him to help out in the first period as he finally looked like the Callahan I know and love.

» Continue reading “Ryan Callahan Gives “Extra Effort” As Rangers Win”

It didn’t happen exactly like this since Boyle wasn’t on the ice but I love this picture and Zuccarello did get his first of the season.

Editors Note: Before we get to the recap of tonight, I want to give my thoughts and prayers to everyone effected by the tragic events in Boston yesterday. Being from NYC, I know exactly what that city is going through. I also know they are just as strong as NY was and will get through it. Thoughts and prayers from your friends to the south are with you guys during this time.

Tonights’ game between the Rangers and Flyers basically meant nothing to the home team. Yes, Philadelphia isn’t mathematically out but for all intensive purposes, they are done. The Rangers, on the other hand, desperately need all the points they can get to make sure they keep that hold on eighth place. So which team played their hearts out? The Flyers, of course. Honestly, I called this outcome before the game cause the Rangers are too damn predictable. Can’t wait till the Panthers game on Thursday…

After a nice tribute to the victims in Boston, the Rangers and Flyers took the ice and if I didn’t know better, I would think both teams played last night and had to travel to get to tonights’ game. (The Flyers did have that, the Rangers didn’t have an excuse.) Nine and a half minutes in, the Flyers finally made the Rangers pay as a puck deflected off a Ranger player (I think Zuccarello) right to Brayden Schenn who was wide open in front of Lundqvist because Anton Stralman was looking the other way and buried it.

» Continue reading “Rangers Lackluster Effort Gives Flyers Easy Win”

Hail to the king, baby! (Photo: Screen shot from Maple Leafs game overtime/ BlueShirtsUnited.com)

I should know better than to crow about any victory against the Penguins, no matter how big or small it is. Because that second game against the Penguins was no fun, no fun at all! So, the Rangers dropped in the standings, but are still hanging on to a playoff spot. They face the Islanders tomorrow, in what will be a great match up of long time rivals.

Good. Bad. I’m the guy with the keyboard. It’s the week in review:

» Continue reading “The Week In Review: Army Of Snarkness”

We got you for the power play and shootout. You haven’t helped on one of those but you came up huge in the other tonight. (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

At the start of the season, I said the Rangers problems were all mental. I don’t think they have as many problems as they did then but the mental aspect of their game is still not there. They better figure it out soon as while their remaining schedule may be favorable, it won’t be easy.

Quick roster note that had nothing to do with tonights’ game as J.T. Miller was officially sent down to Connecticut yesterday. I’m glad for two reasons. One, it means his wrist is better and two because it means the Rangers are doing the right thing for him. If there is one good thing about the moves the Rangers made at the trade deadline, it brought in bodies so the kids could learn rather than getting thrown into the fire.

Not much action in the first period as the two teams were basically feeling each other out. Both sides got chances but nothing worth talking about nor were there any penalties in the period.

» Continue reading “Rangers Squeak By Leafs To Split Home And Home”

Welcome back little one! (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

I have no idea what to think of this news but Mats Zuccarello is apparently headed back to the Rangers for at least the remainder of the season. I know Zuccarello wanted at least a two year deal but rumors are the Rangers are only offering one year. (I use the word “rumors” loosely as Adam Herman over at The NYR Blog has been following this story pretty closely so I trust what he has in that link.) Smart move by the Rangers, if you ask me.

His KHL team still needs to sign off on this but it sounds like that is a formality more than anything else. (He has an out-clause in his current contract.)

So why do I not know what to think about this? Well, Zuccarello could definitely help on the power play (assuming he sees time on it) and is good in the shootout. But anyone who believes Tortorella likes the 5-foot-7 161-pound forward is kidding themselves. We all know Torts style and Zucc just doesn’t play that. Will be interesting to see how this works. If anything, it brings in someone who could help with the offense (honestly anyone could at this point) and didn’t cost the Rangers a thing (well other than Halpern having to be waived).

Now the biggest question – when he gets here, who’s spot in the lineup does he take? Sadly I’m going to guess Taylor Pyatt, who has not been what I hoped or expected him to be. Although it will be strange to see Torts pull a big body out of the lineup for someone who is anything but one…

Could this guy be coming back to New York? (Photo: Bridget Samuels/flickr)

Yes, I am very behind on this news. Honestly, it’s because I didn’t really think it had any legs so chose to ignore it. My mistake.

Anyway, for those who hadn’t heard, there are rumors that the Rangers might look to bring back Mats Zuccarello. He is still Rangers property (as a RFA) so all they would need to do is sign him and he can join the roster. No waivers, no questions asked. His KHL team recently lost their playoffs series so conditioning wouldn’t be an issue. Well, conditioning in the sense that he’s played more recently than Roman Hamrlik had when he joined the lineup Thursday night. But do the Rangers want him?

While I have been able to figure out many of the moves the Rangers have recently made, this one I’m completely clueless on. Yes, if he brings the spark he did at times last year and pops in a few goals, he will be welcomed with open arms. If not, do the Rangers need him? Specifically, would Torts want him?

Since I don’t know the answers to those questions, I’m instead going to give my take on this.

» Continue reading “Will Mats Zuccarello Return To New York?”